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Gongju or Buyeo?

Both towns were Baekje capitals, and both hold World Heritage sites from the Baekje Historic Areas, inscribed in 2015. Gongju's old town is the earlier Ungjin capital, with Gongsanseong and the Royal Tombs of King Muryeong; Buyeo-eup is the later Sabi capital, with Busosanseong, the Jeongnimsa pagoda and Gungnamji. Here is how to choose your base.

The verdict

For an easy arrival from Seoul and the royal tombs, choose Gongju's old town: express buses run from Seoul's Central terminal every 30 minutes, about 1 hour 30 minutes by Gongju City's figures, and Gongsanseong, the Royal Tombs of King Muryeong and Gongju National Museum are all there. For evenings and the river, choose Buyeo-eup: the Jeongnimsa pagoda is lit until 22:00 from March to October, Gungnamji's bridges are lit at night, and VisitKorea describes boats below Nakhwaam. With two nights, sleep in both, linked by the wide-area bus, about 50 minutes by Gongju City's timetable.

Side by side

Gongju Old Town and Buyeo-eup, side by side
Gongju Old TownBuyeo-eup
Getting there from SeoulExpress bus from Seoul's Central terminal, every 30 minutes, about 1 h 30 min (Gongju City); KTX from Yongsan to Gongju Station, outside town, 58 min to 1 h 9 min (Gongju City).Bus from Dong Seoul, four or five a day, 2 h 25 min to 2 h 50 min (VisitKorea, January 2025); or via Gongju and the wide-area bus.
Buses and trainsGongju Bus Terminal and KTX Gongju Station, linked to town by city buses 200 (holidays only), 201, 202, 250 and 251 (Gongju City's 2025 timetable).Buyeo Intercity Bus Terminal, about 12 minutes on foot from Gungnamji (VisitKorea, 2025).
Best forA first look at Baekje, the royal tombs and museums, easy arrivals from Seoul.Night sights, lotus season, river boats, sights near the bus terminal.
World HeritageGongsanseong Fortress and the royal tombs at Songsan-ri, from the Ungjin capital (475–538).Busosanseong and the Gwanbuk-ri site, the Jeongnimsa Temple Site, the Neungsan-ri tombs and the Naseong wall, from the Sabi capital (538–660).
EveningsSanseong Market's night market, Jemincheon Stream and the Geumgang at sunset.The lit pagoda at the Jeongnimsa Temple Site, open until 22:00 from March to October, and Gungnamji's lit bridges.
Sightseeing within reachGongju National Museum, Gongju Hanok Village, the Baekje Experience Center and VisitKorea's 3.3 km course.Buyeo National Museum and its gilt-bronze incense burner, Nakhwaam, Goransa and Baekje Cultural Land.
Day trips and onward travelMagoksa Temple on Taehwasan; the wide-area bus to Buyeo, four a day.Baekje Cultural Land (closed on Mondays); the wide-area bus to Gongju, four a day.
FestivalsThe Baekje Cultural Festival at Geumgang Singwan Park, Mirseom and Gongsanseong (3–11 October in 2026); a winter chestnut festival.The Baekje Cultural Festival downtown, main stage at the Jeongnimsa Temple Site (3–11 October in 2026); the Seodong Lotus Festival each July (4–6 July in 2025).
FeelA fortress town on the Geumgang: walls, royal tombs and a night market.A garden town on the Baengmagang: a lotus pond, a stone pagoda and river cliffs.

Choose Gongju Old Town if

  • You are coming from Seoul for one night
  • The Royal Tombs of King Muryeong are the point of the trip
  • You want express buses every 30 minutes
  • You want a night market and an evening by the Geumgang

Choose Buyeo-eup if

  • You want Baekje's sights lit up after dark
  • You are travelling in July for the lotus
  • You want to see Nakhwaam from a river boat
  • You want the evening sights close to the bus terminal

Questions visitors ask

Should I stay in Gongju or Buyeo for one night?

Gongju for the easiest trip from Seoul: express buses run from the Central terminal every 30 minutes, about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the old town has both of Gongju's World Heritage components and the National Museum. Buyeo for a night of lit sights: the Jeongnimsa Temple Site stays open until 22:00 from March to October, and Gungnamji is about 12 minutes on foot from the bus terminal.

How do I travel between Gongju and Buyeo?

By the wide-area tourism bus between Gongju Bus Terminal (platform 1) and Buyeo Intercity Bus Terminal, four times a day each way. Southbound, it leaves Gongju at 09:20, 11:10, 15:20 and 17:10 and takes about 50 minutes by Gongju City's timetable; northbound, it leaves Buyeo at 05:10, 11:10, 13:00 and 19:00.

Which town is better during the Baekje Cultural Festival?

Either: in 2026 the festival was held in both on the same dates, 3 to 11 October. Gongju's venues were Geumgang Singwan Park, Mirseom and Gongsanseong; Buyeo's programme was held downtown, with the main stage at the Jeongnimsa Temple Site, a historical procession on 9 October and a night parade on 10 October.

Read both in full.

Gongju Old Town guideBuyeo-eup guide

Sources & review

Editorial review: · Korea Standard Time